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Red Cross Offers Tips for a Safe, yet Spooky Halloween

With Halloween right around the corner, the American Red Cross would like everyone to stay safe when they don their costumes and go out to Trick-or-Treat. Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and traffic accidents. This year severe weather is also a threat. Heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong wind and hail are a possibility.

The Red Cross is offering the following tips to help make this Halloween safe:

SEVERE WEATHER:

If thunder roars, go indoors. If there is thunder, stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap. If someone is driving, they should try to exit the roadway and park, stay in the vehicle, turn on the emergency flashers and avoid touching metal surfaces. If someone is stuck outside, they should avoid high ground, water, tall trees and metal objects. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are not safe.

Download the free Red Cross Tornado App which will not only let you know about NOAA tornado alerts, but also severe thunderstorm and flood watch and warning alerts.

TRICK OR TREAT:

·Look for flame-resistant costumes.

·Plan the Trick-or-Treat route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children as they make their way around the neighborhood.

·Make sure the Trick-or-Treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing in order to be seen.

·Visit only the homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.

·Instead of masks, which can cover the eyes and make it hard to see, consider using face paint.

·Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.

·Be cautious around pets and any other animals.

WELCOMING GHOSTS AND GOBLINS

If someone is welcoming Trick-or-Treaters at their home, they should make sure the outdoor light is on. Other safety steps include:

·Sweep leaves from the sidewalks and steps.

·Clear the porch or front yard of any obstacles that a child could trip over.

·Restrain any household pets.

·Use a glow stick instead of a candle in the jack-o-lantern to avoid a fire hazard.